As an American, Tony Bocanegra knows the culture of the United States shies away from the subject of death.

But as the executive director of Sinfonia Mexicana, he understands the Mexican perspective as well.

“In Mexico, they don’t shy away from the subject,” he said. “Mexicans use Dia de los Muertos as a reason to celebrate the lives of those who have lived and died,” says Bocanegra, director of the nonprofit Sinfonia since 2001.

“It’s a day of celebration – not mourning.”

On Saturday, Sinfonia Mexicana launches its 23rd season with a concert celebrating those rich cultural traditions of Dia de los Muertos – the festival of life honoring the dead.

“The Day of the Dead tradition is one of Mexico’s oldest festivals,” according to Bocanegra, “wonderfully colorful, lively and macabre.”

The concert, a celebration of the lives and music of some of Mexico’s greatest musicians, features Mariachi Champana Nevin and Mexican vocalists Monica Abrego and Jorge Lopez Yanez.

For the first time, Ballet Folklorico Flores del Desierto, from the High Desert, will perform on the California Theatre stage, dancing to “La Llorona” (The Crying Lady), “La Bruja” (The Witch) and “La Calaca” (The Skeleton).

“The family-oriented concert will be especially meaningful to grandparents who enjoyed these dances and songs from the ’50s and ’60s,” said Mary Chavez, Sinfonia Mexicana administrative assistant.

Music from Mexican legends includes songs by Agustin Lara and Jose Alfredo Jimenez, as well as movie icons Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Lola Beltran and Rafael Mendez.

Other highlights of the colorful program are the “greatest hits of mariachi” performed by Maestro Jeff Nevin and his 25-member Mariachi Champana Nevin.

“For this concert we’ll feature traditional Mexican Day of the Dead music and dance – witches, spirits, dancing skeletons, the whole bit – but the concert is also a celebration of the lives of Mexico’s best-known and most beloved artists. These are the people who made mariachi what it is today, and we’ll reflect on the lives of our loved ones who have passed on,” Nevin said.

“The secret is this,” Nevin added. “When you celebrate the lives of people who are no longer living, it reminds you that they’re not really `gone’ at all – they are always living within you.”

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert range from $45 to $65.

“We want people to come enjoy and have their lives enriched,” Bocanegra said. “We want to put a smile on people’s faces.”